Expected service life of pitched roof membrane undr tiles?

Jun 24, 2026 Last reply: 3 weeks ago 4 Replies

Started off down a rabbit hole about roofing membranes.



The ever relisble Internet aided by AI suggested that the service life for tar paper was about 15 years. and a modern roofing membrane was 20-25 years.



This seems unreasonable to me.



Strip off the roof tiles and replace the membrane every 20-25 years?



I don't know anywhere that does this.



I do wonder if AI is mixing up the durability of a felt flat roof with a pitched roof with tiles.



Has anyone had to refurbish a pitched roof in this manner?



As an indication, I think out 1930s semi is still on the original tar paper (or whatever).



Cheers


Dave R



Tar paper *in sunlight* lasts 20 years max. Under roof tiles its probably a lot longer than that.

My late '60s house has a sort of hessian/tar roll in place between the rafters and tiles, it's drooped a bit over the years, but not gone brittle, never noticed any rain having got in ... no thoughts of touching it, don't think any house in the street has been re-roofed (barring work on extensions).

I have an old house with part of the roof covered in aged peg tiles. They were relaid there about 35 years ago on some "tar paper" roofing felt which appears from below to still be in good condition - and watertight

The sarking felt on our roof was still good after 60 years.

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